The Crazy Mercenary Commander Goes to Work in the Entertainment Industry

Translator: Dreamscribe

Director Baek Jeong-ha couldn't take her eyes off the music director 'Rina', who had just appeared in the studio.

'Why is a music director this pretty??'

Because Choi Ri-na's beauty was striking enough to blow well past anything she'd expected. On top of that, she was younger than expected. Choi Ri-na's outfit was the kind found just about anywhere. A white short-sleeved tee, slightly loose jeans, and sneakers. But maybe that was exactly why Choi Ri-na's looks stood out all the more.

"......"

"......"

After the entrance of Choi Ri-na, who went by the stage name 'Rina', a brief silence settled over the studio. Director Baek Jeong-ha, of course, along with Executive Director Heo Seong-jin, Oh Jong-man, and the rest. Everyone gathered in the studio had been struck dumb at the sight of Choi Ri-na's beauty.

Either way, Choi Ri-na kept her eyes crinkled in a smile.

By this point, Director Baek Jeong-ha, who had spent years making her living as a director, felt her occupational habit flare up. Namely, gauging the other person's star quality.

'......Not so much a music director – an actress. No, more than an actress, she's got exactly the face for an idol.'

Choi Ri-na had long purple hair and clear skin, an overall puppy-faced look, yet somehow cuteness and sex appeal coexisted in her.

'Her makeup's barely there and the visuals are insane – and the proportions are great too. This girl could blow most idols out of the water??'

The assessments of the others in the studio, Executive Director Heo Seong-jin and the rest, ran along similar lines. While everyone was busy losing their heads over Choi Ri-na, the woman herself was steeling her resolve.

'My first move as a music director! I have to nail this! I've got to earn another bit of praise from Commander-nim!'

In a sense, the whole music director job had been a mission handed to her by Kang Jae-ha, and Choi Ri-na was determined to carry it out faithfully, eager to repay the Commander. For the record, Choi Ri-na had come to this studio alone.

Because while she currently belonged to 'MEG', to the outside world she was a music director, a composer, a solo act with no ties.

There wasn't really any problem with that.

After all, music director or composer or whatever, the external contracts were all kept separate.

In any case.

"Ah."

Director Baek Jeong-ha gave her head a small, quick shake to snap herself out of it and spoke to Choi Ri-na.

"Music Director 'Rina'?"

"Yes! Hello."

"Uh – yes, hello. I'm Baek Jeong-ha, the one who requested the meeting."

"It's a pleasure to work with you, Director!"

After that, Director Baek Jeong-ha introduced the people around her, Executive Director Heo Seong-jin, Oh Jong-man, and a few of the key staff, and Oh Jong-man's already grim expression turned even grimmer. Because Choi Ri-na was just too pretty.

'......Damn, I thought an actress had walked in.'

It was a man's instinct. But he quickly shook his head on the inside.

'Hey, get a grip, Oh Jong-man. She's just a kid, a kid. My wife's the prettiest, yeah, that's right.'

Having gotten through the introductions well enough, Choi Ri-na felt reassured in her own way.

'Thank goodness, everyone's so nice!'

Director Baek Jeong-ha pulled over a chair, offered it to Choi Ri-na, and asked a question.

"So, Music Director 'Rina'. When did you start working as a music director?"

Choi Ri-na delivered her line exactly as the Commander, Kang Jae-ha, had coached her.

"Oh! I've been preparing to be a music director the whole time I've been composing."

"For how long?"

"Quite a while?"

Being vague was the whole point. Then Director Baek Jeong-ha spoke up again.

"...You mentioned composing. Is there any song you've written that's well known, by chance?"

"No! Not yet. But a few of my songs got signed not long ago."

"With who?"

"I can't tell you that just yet. There's a confidentiality clause."

"Ah, right."

Choi Ri-na's song had recently been signed as a track for the single album of the top-tier girl group 'Seriel'. But until the official announcement, strict secrecy. Which was why Director Baek Jeong-ha narrowed her brow slightly as she looked at Choi Ri-na.

'...Why does this kid have so many secrets??'

She had plenty of questions, but Baek Jeong-ha let them go.

'Forget it. All that matters is talent, just talent.'

She had always been the type to pick people based on ability above all, whatever their background. Soon Director Baek Jeong-ha exchanged glances with Executive Director Heo Seong-jin, Oh Jong-man, and the others, then brought her gaze back to Choi Ri-na.

"First, I'm sure you already know about it, 'Rina'-nim, but let me briefly go over the 'One-Act Drama Project'."

Her briefing followed. Roughly ten minutes later, Director Baek Jeong-ha changed the subject.

"Let me check something first. I've already gone through the music you sent over, 'Rina'-nim. From what I saw, apart from the main theme for the 'One-Act Drama Project', it was mostly music centered on 'Murder Is a Qualification Too'. Could you maybe make OSTs for the other one-act works as well?"

Director Baek Jeong-ha simply hadn't hired a music director yet, but she already had a plan for how to arrange the music for the 'One-Act Drama Project'. Sure, it would get revised once she talked things over with whoever the new music director turned out to be, but the point was she'd laid down the framework.

Across the whole 'One-Act Drama Project', the main theme, the opening, and the ending songs would be unified. And the various sound effects would be shared among the six one-act works as well.

But she intended to make the main OST representing each work entirely separate.

"We'll discuss the detailed contract terms separately, but naturally the soundtrack revenue will be divided up. Usually it runs at the standard ratio, but – since the 'One-Act Drama Project' has an unusual structure, I'll set the revenue split so that you, the music director, take a larger share."

Here, Choi Ri-na recalled Jae-ha's instructions.

'When you go in to meet Director Baek Jeong-ha, you're the dominant party, Choi Ri-na. Don't get cowed, push right back. I'm behind you, and there are plenty of comrades too. You've got nothing to lose. And given Director Baek Jeong-ha's personality, you'll be better off speaking plainly.'

Emboldened, she answered with confidence.

"I'd love it if you gave me a lot more than what you're thinking of!"

This, of course, was per Kang Jae-ha's instructions.

"That is, if you like my songs."

"......"

The truth was, Choi Ri-na was an unknown at the moment, and it was rare for an unknown to sign with a behemoth like Netflix. No, it was safe to say it simply never happened. This was a situation built purely on 'connections'. But the deed was already done, and Director Baek Jeong-ha had fallen for Choi Ri-na, for Choi Ri-na's music.

On the surface, Director Baek Jeong-ha or Netflix was the dominant party, but looking deeper, the one holding the initiative was Choi Ri-na.

In a way she might have come across as presumptuous, but Director Baek Jeong-ha actually gave a faint smile instead.

'The kid's got nerve. Well, but I like that. A hundred times better than the ones who yap behind your back. If you've got the skills, you're allowed.'

Director Baek Jeong-ha nodded at Choi Ri-na.

"All right, I'll accommodate you as much as I can, Music Director 'Rina'. So, can you make OSTs for the other one-act works too?"

Instead of answering, Choi Ri-na lifted the laptop she'd brought along.

"Actually, I figured you'd ask, so I went and made two more songs! They aren't finished, but you'll be able to get the feel of them."

It wasn't a lie. Choi Ri-na had received synopses of the other one-act works from Kang Jae-ha, and even while working on the music for 'Moonless Village', she'd gone and made two new OSTs.

For her, with her 'ability', it wasn't all that difficult a task.

Director Baek Jeong-ha was taken aback.

"You made the songs......in advance?"

"Yes!!"

The one whose eyes went wide was, just the same, Executive Director Heo Seong-jin, who had been watching the conversation the whole time. In that instant, his thoughts went from 'MEG' to General Manager Kim Ha-jae with the cold eyes. That is, Kang Jae-ha.

'Take screenwriter Oh Jong-man here too. Everyone connected to 'MEG' gives off this strong sense of being off the charts. Out of the ordinary, I suppose......especially that General Manager Kim Ha-jae.'

After that, Choi Ri-na settled into her seat and began playing the music she had made.

-♬♪

Along with it, she added explanations of why this kind of music had come about, which part of the work it went into, which character it would play alongside, and so on. The newly made songs included.

When roughly an hour had passed.

"Music Director 'Rina'. "

Director Baek Jeong-ha, her angular jaw set in a serious expression until now, broke into a satisfied smile.

"A genius in looks, and a genius in talent too."

"Huh??"

Then Director Baek Jeong-ha extended her hand to Choi Ri-na.

"I'm counting on you for the music of our 'One-Act Drama Project'."

It meant she was confirming Choi Ri-na as the music director.

The next day.

The LN Entertainment scandal, the nuclear bomb that had gone off yesterday, was blazing even more fiercely despite a full day having passed. Everywhere one looked there was nothing but articles about LN Entertainment, and from the entertainment industry to the general public, talk of LN Entertainment went endlessly back and forth on everyone's lips.

It was no wonder.

《LN Entertainment CEO Seo Hyun-su, Suspected of Embezzling Around 10 Billion Won?》

《[Big Issue] LN Entertainment CEO Seo Hyun-su, From Offshore Tax Evasion to a Slush Fund Too? The More They Dig, the More Keeps Coming Out》

Because a chain of explosions of new incidents tied to LN Entertainment was going off.

After the tax evasion, even the slush fund surfaced, and next came the paper company.

《[Feature] The Real Identity of CEO Seo Hyun-su's Hong Kong Shell Company / Photos》

《Seo Hyun-su, the Godfather of LN Entertainment, A Whole Slew of Hong Kong Paper Companies Uncovered》

They were all nuclear bombs going off under Kang Jae-ha's design, of course. By now, CEO Seo Hyun-su...

《CEO Seo Hyun-su, Once Defiant in Calling It Groundless, Now Silent as the Scandals Keep Breaking》

...had gone so quiet it bordered on disappearing into hiding.

Meanwhile, Tokyo, Japan.

The setting was a large hotel in Tokyo. Kang Jae-ha could be found in one of the rooms. With him was the hulking Go Chun-seok. For the record, Go Chun-seok, who had tagged along on the Commander's business trip to Japan, was at the same hotel as Kang Jae-ha but had taken a room a fair distance away, and Jae-ha let out a small snort of laughter as his eyes swept over Go Chun-seok's room.

Because piled up on the round table were things bought from a nearby convenience store. Bread, boxed lunches, cup noodles, snacks, and so on.

"Japan, your first time?"

When the Commander asked, Go Chun-seok nodded solemnly.

"It's my first time. For that matter, it was my first time on a plane at all."

"A plane?"

"Yes. I thought I'd never get to fly in my whole life. Thank you for letting me, Commander-nim."

"......"

Kang Jae-ha felt a little sorry for Go Chun-seok.

'He must have lived thinking that time to ride a plane was a luxury he couldn't afford.'

Which was why Go Chun-seok was doing his utmost to enjoy the short Japan trip. Then Go Chun-seok spoke with his characteristic gravity.

"I'm worried."

"About what."

"Those things I bought here, the bread and the snacks and all. I'm wondering whether they'll go bad if I take them back to Korea. For that matter, is it even allowed to bring them into Korea?"

"To give to your grandmother?"

"Yes."

"They won't go bad, and you can bring them in. Stop by the duty-free shop before you head back to Korea too. I'll show you where. Pay for it with the card I gave you."

"Thank you. I'll be sure to tell my grandmother that you bought them, Commander-nim."

"Say you bought them."

Go Chun-seok, who'd earnestly asked whether that was really all right, changed the subject.

"Anyway, it was a fascinating experience, the plane."

"How so."

"When the plane took off. I nearly wet myself. And up in the sky I broke into a cold sweat."

Unbeknownst to anyone, it seemed Go Chun-seok had been through quite an ordeal all on his own up there.

"Was it a warzone?"

"Very much so."

"You've grown stronger."

"Yes, no doubt."

Soon Go Chun-seok was running a hand like a cauldron lid over his cropped hair. Kang Jae-ha asked him,

"Did anything change when you came to Japan? Like, did you hear that woman's voice?"

Go Chun-seok shook his head.

"Nothing like that."

Recalling the 'Language Pack', Kang Jae-ha nodded slowly.

'So the 'Language Pack' really did only show up for me, huh.'

He filled Go Chun-seok in on the day's schedule. Today as well, Go Chun-seok would quietly hover around Kang Jae-ha. Then Kang Jae-ha parted from Go Chun-seok and met up with An Ji-hee and the team members. An Ji-hee, her bob let down, was in full makeup, and when they stepped out into the hotel lobby, Ogawa Sayaka and her people from 'Shiori Production' were waiting.

"Hello, An Ji-hee-nim, Kang Jae-ha Manager-nim."

Thanks to Kang Jae-ha's considerable command of Japanese, no interpreter was in sight today, and Sayaka briefly briefed Jae-ha on the day's schedule.

First they would head to 'Shiori Production', and right off the bat there was a preliminary meeting with all the Japanese actors cast in 'Spring at the Borderline'. Among them, naturally, were some of Japan's top actors mixed in, and hearing this, An Ji-hee gulped down a nervous swallow.

It wasn't strange.

Because among the actors of 'Spring at the Borderline', An Ji-hee was the one and only Korean.

Soon Kang Jae-ha, An Ji-hee, and the others boarded the van, and An Ji-hee, who had been quiet the whole time, asked Jae-ha tentatively,

"Manager-nim, when we get to 'Shiori Production', there'll be Japanese top actors and just tons of actors, right??"

Jae-ha answered a touch dryly.

"Probably. You saw the actor list, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I did, but – ugh, I'm a little nervous."

"No need for that. You don't really know their faces anyway, right? It's easier if you just register them as Random Person A, Random Person B."

"......Ah, Random Person A, Random Person B. Okay, I'll do that."

An Ji-hee shook off her nerves quickly enough, and the van came to a stop in the parking lot of a standalone building. This was none other than 'Shiori Production', the makers of 'Spring at the Borderline'.

Soon Kang Jae-ha and An Ji-hee's team were shown to the large conference room on the third floor.

Inside, a large round table had been set up, and many Japanese actors were already seated around it. It was fairly noisy, but the moment An Ji-hee stepped in,

"......"

"......"

the mood went abruptly quiet. The Japanese actors' eyes were all fixed on An Ji-hee. Kang Jae-ha whispered to the frozen An Ji-hee,

"Don't freeze up, say hello. Mind your manners, but keep it brief and short."

"Ah, the greeting. Sh-should I do it in Japanese?"

"No. In Korean."

An Ji-hee blurted out a greeting to the Japanese actors. In Korean, of course.

"Hello! I'm An Ji-hee."

This was the moment. As Kang Jae-ha's eyes swept over the seated Japanese actors' reactions, his vision changed. A welling sense of déjà vu. His 'Deja Vu' had triggered, here in Japan. A short while later, Kang Jae-ha returned to reality and called to mind the 'Deja Vu' he'd just seen.

He pinned his gaze on an innocent-looking actress among the seated Japanese actors.

'An affair, huh – doesn't look it on the outside, but inside she's rotten.'

*****

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